Foodtech

Innovation Lab

1871’s Foodtech Innovation Lab connects growth stage, late stage, and corporate tech businesses that want to solve the biggest challenges and opportunities in Food together.

Applications open 5.13.24

2024 Lab Focus Areas

Innovative Ingredients

AgTech

Manufacturing & Packaging Innovation

2024 Lab Focus Areas

Smart Manufacturing

Automation, digitization, flexibility, and scalability

Supply Chain Responsibility

Sustainability by design, circular supply chain, scope 3 transparency, and n-tier visibility

Global Resiliency

Decentralization, agility, reconfigurable networks, and solving for supply chain disruption

AI in Supply Chain

Smart decision making and augmented insights

Visibility and Planning

Control tower and digital twin 

“It’s been an awesome experience, we’ve been able to…

Connect with corporate partners, investors, and other founders in this ecosystem to share ideas and collaborate.”

1871’s C1 Supply Chain Innovation Lab participant gives program review.

“It’s been an awesome experience, we’ve been able to…

1871’s C1 Supply Chain Innovation Lab participant gives program review.

Foodtech Innovation Lab 2023

Application Phase

Apps open 5.13.24

Info session

Learn more about Foodtech Innovation Lab

Key details

4 months | Immersive | Hybrid

Runs: 8.12.24 - 11.8.24

What's included for participants

•Unique benefits per business stages

• Inclusion on 1871 press release

• Immersive  programming by experts

• Community of peers

• Growth stage gets 3 months of 1871 membership after program + during

• Featured at Foodtech Innovation Summit

•Unique benefits per business stages

• Inclusion on 1871 press release

• Immersive  programming by experts

• Community of peers

• Featured at Foodtech Innovation Summit

Who's in the lab>>

Growth stage startups

Late stage lab partners

Corporate lab partners

Growth stage startups

Late stage lab partners

Corporate lab partners

Built with industry experts

Entrepreneur-In-Residence

Nate Cooper

Founder & Managing Partner @  Barrel Ventures

Nate has partnered with some of the brightest entrepreneurs building companies in this world, investing in companies such as Olipop, Jumbotail, Grabango, Helaina, Great Wrap & others. He founded L3 Hospitality Group and Wise Apple.

Barrel Ventures is an early stage fund investing in the future of food from pre-farm to post-fork and everything in-between.

Join the lab

Growth stage startups

For a foodtech company with a demonstrated
product market fit &  poised to grow.

Exclusive benefits
  • Share their product with Corporate partners, strategic investors, and other growth and late stage companies
  • Iterate faster and level up their product and business strategy
  • Tap into advice from industry experts 
  • Gain a deeper understanding of industry trends and positioning
  • Create a network of peers in their industry
  • Amplify your brand at the Foodtech Summit

Apps open 5.13.24

Late stage lab partner

For a foodtech company interested in becoming an industry expert and influencing major industry outcomes.

Exclusive benefits
  • Emerge as a showcased thought leader
  • Network with peers and leaders in your industry
  • Mentor future industry leaders
  • Connect with industry leaders and up-and-coming companies disrupting your industry 
  • Explore curated connections between potential partners across maturity curve (growth to corporate)
  • Amplify your brand at the Foodtech Summit

Apps open 5.13.24​

Corporate
lab partners

For corporates looking to innovate and accelerate foodtech solutions.

Exclusive benefits
  • Ability to shape lab focus areas and programming tied to your business and broader  industry needs
  • Connect & network with top tier growth and late stage startups 
  • Curated introductions  related to your business needs and objectives 
  • Mentor future industry leaders
  • Amplify your company thought leaders through workshops and panels 
  • Gain peer to peer access and insights from industry leaders at other partner companies 
  • Seat on 1871’s Foodtech Council with like minded industry experts

Apps open 5.13.24​

Lab timeline

Programming

Week 1

8.12.24 - 8.16.24 [Virtual]

Week 2

9.09.24 - 9.13.24 [In-person]

Week 3

10.07.24 - 10.11.24 [Virtual]

Week 4

11.04.24 - 11.08.24 [In-person]

Foodtech Innovation Summit

Capstone event w/ public showcase

November 7th 2024

Supported by

General partners

Late stage lab partners

World Business Chicago Logo

Late stage lab partners